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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

Morton Stanley Park

Morton Stanley Park is a public park located to the north of Callow Hill. It was opened in
1986 and is run by Redditch Borough Council, however it is not owned by them. The land
today that makes up Morton Stanley Park, was once Upper Grinsty Farm, which was
bought in 1913 by William Morton Stanley. Stanley was a rich factory owner and retired
to Upper Grinsty and lived the rest of his life there. In 1921, he edited his will, which
resulted in Upper Grinsty Farm being given to the people of Redditch and Webheath.
Stanley died three years later at the age of 84, little did he know his land would not be
open to the public until over 60 years later.

Upper Grinsty Farmhouse, became derelict and run-down until it was finely demolished
in 1959. 5 years later when Redditch became a New Town, the Development Corporation
wanted to build a housing estate on his land, however these plans were halted by the
Headless Cross Residents Association. In 1978, the far-eastern fringes of Stanley's land
was in fact built on, but Reddicth Council gave council owned land to the west of the
estate to compensate. Windmill Drive was built and after 60 years of waiting the park
opened to the public with two car parks, one in the east in Headless Cross and one in the

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